What Cruise Ships Are Doing To Keep Passengers & Crew Healthy
While cruise ships are linked to the early days of the pandemic, they have taken extraordinary steps to limit the number of cases on board. In fact, while cases have been reported regularly on ships, the total numbers and spread appear to be small. Case counts reported have largely been in the single digits.
To keep passengers healthy, cruise lines are using vaccines as a cornerstone of their plan. Most ships sailing require vaccination for most passengers.
In addition to vaccines, cruise lines are now requiring tests for all passengers before boarding, even if they have the shot. On the ship, masks are usually being required for indoors. Ships are also sailing at reduced capacity.
While some lines are allowing a small number of unvaccinated passengers sail, more restrictions are placed on these guests. For instance, multiple tests are required before and during sailing. Travel insurance is required in many instances. Some areas of the ship may off-limits if a passenger doesnt have the shot.
Already weve seen the protocols change to adapt to the rising number of cases and new requirements from ports of call. Theres little doubt that there will be more changes in store, depending on the direction of virus cases on land.
Celebrity Brand’s Cruising Experience
- Accommodations: some of the largest cruise suites . Luxurious “ConciergeClass” staterooms, attentive highly personalized impeccable service and enjoying seating preference, priority check-in. 2:1 guest-to-staff ratio
- Dining: award-winning cuisine, excellent alternate dining venues. Celebrity’s “Gourmet Bites” every afternoon, themed lunch buffets. Culinary demonstrations. The line has partnered with “Elizabeth Blau and Associates”, as to menu and wine selections, and all the standards of serving.
- Facilities: the largest cruise ship spa and gym facilities at sea . “Celebrity Theatre” for Broadway-style productions, huge European-style casinos, bingo, themed bars, and lounges, including a discoclub, large pools, poolside recreation programs , onboard boutique shopping.
- Enrichment: “Celebrity Lecture Series”. Rich contemporary art collections. Art auctions, and enhanced golf program.
- “Celebrity Escape” concept offers complimentary classes, workshops, themed events, fashion shows, deck parties, etc.
Since 2013, the company has been partnered with “Top Chef” . In late 2014, both companies started the exclusive “Top Chef at Sea” cruising experience. By this onboard culinary program, fans and foodies have the opportunity to travel with a lineup of celebrity chefs on food-themed “Top Chef Signature Sailing” each year. Celebrity also offers an interactive “Quickfire Challenges” and “Top Chef”-inspired menu evenings fleetwide on cruises 5-nights or longer .
Which Celebrity Cruises Ships Are Best For Families With Children
All of the Celebrity Cruises ships are good for kids, so it wouldnt be possible to say that one particular ship is the best. While you wont find waterslides and ziplines, Celebrity Cruises kids clubs are great, with soft play and lots of organised activities.
When choosing a Celebrity cruise with children, the itinerary is probably more important than the ship. Older kids will love the Galapagos expeditions, warm weather cruises are loved by all, while parents with pre-school kids may like to look out for no-fly cruises from their nearest port.
Read Also: Best Alaska Cruise Stops
Seven Celebrity Cruise Ships Will Sail Europe In 2023
Seven Celebrity cruise ships to sail in Europe, including all Edge-class vessels, offering 45 overnight stays in 11 different cities.
Celebrity Cruises announced its European itineraries for 2023 this week. The company will be going all out in the continent with seven ships sailing itineraries ranging from four to 13-nights. Guests can also look forward to no less than 45 overnight stays in some of Europes most popular cities, as well as overnight stays in the African continent in Alexandria, Egypt.
The ships sailing in Europe will be spread out from the Eastern and Western Mediterranean, Western Europe, and Northern Europe. Included in those seven cruise ships are all three Edge-class series ships, including the newest ship, Celebrity Beyond, which trailblazing Captain Kate McCue will captain.
Calculating How Many Lifeboats Are On A Cruise Ship
To determine how many lifeboats a cruise ship needs, we assume that each boat has a capacity for 150 people and that 37.5% of the ships capacity will be accommodated on each side.
| Ship Capacity | |
| 4000 | 20 |
Pro Tip: You can estimate the capacity of a cruise ship by counting how many lifeboats are on each side.
Recommended Reading: What Are The Best Cruise Ship Jobs
Celebrity Cruises Will Not Ask For Proof Of Vaccine In Florida But There Will Be Different Rules For Those Passengers
Ever since Celebrity Cruises announced restart plans for cruises from the United States, the big question has been how will the cruise line get around Florida’s vaccine passport ban.
Florida passed a law that prohibits any business from asking anyone to provide proof of a Covid-19 vaccine.
Under Florida law, it is impermissible for any business operating in Florida to require patrons or customers to provide documentation certifying Covid-19 vaccination or post-infection recovery to gain access to, entry upon, or services from the business.
The new Florida law goes into effect on July 1, and carries with up to a $5,000 fine per violation.
Celebrity Cruises told travel agents on a webinar on Tuesday that they will not require passengers to show proof of vaccination, but someone that prefers or opts out of showing proof will be held to a different set of protocols onboard, as well as additional costs to incur to confirm they are healthy.
During a webinar with travel agents, Dondra Ritzenthaler, Celebrity Cruises Senior Vice President of Sales and Trade Support & Service, informed travel agents of their plan for U.S. cruises so they can sail and comply with Florida’s laws.
Celebrity still intends to sail with at least 95% vaccinated guests, but it will optional to show proof of being vaccinated or not.
“Florida is a little bit different,” Ms. Ritzenthaler explained. “We will still go out with 100 percent of our crew and 95 percent of our guest vaccinated.”
Cruise Ship Disembarks In New Orleans With At Least 17 Covid Cases Including A Probable Omicron Infection
New Orleans A Norwegian Cruise Line ship with at least 17 passengers and crew members infected with COVID-19 docked Sunday in New Orleans, where health officials said the ship was disembarked amid efforts to prevent any spread into the community. At least one of the infected crew members is suspected to have the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus, the Louisiana Department of Health said late Sunday. The Norwegian Breakaway arrived in the city on Sunday after departing from New Orleans on November 28 and making stops in Belize, Honduras and Mexico over the past week. Norwegian Cruise Line issued a statement on Saturday confirming a “handful of COVID-19 cases among guests and crew.” The company said all of the identified cases involved people without symptoms of the illness. On Monday, a spokesperson for the company said in a statement a South African crew member suspected of having the Omicron variant was in isolation for the entirety of the November 28 cruise.
UPDATE: 7 additional COVID-19 cases have been identified on a ship that disembarked in New Orleans today. This brings the total number of #COVID19 cases identified among the passengers and crew members to 17.
Louisiana Department of Health
The state recorded its first confirmed Omicron case on Sunday, the health department said, but that was unrelated to the Norwegian cruise liner.
Read Also: What Cruise Lines Go To Hawaii From California
Reviews Of Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity cruises receive high marks on CruiseCritic.com, where the vast majority of reviewers have great things to say about cruising with this company. In their reviews, passengers describe the ships as “excellent” and praise their cleanliness, food, knowledgeable crew, entertainment options and more.
An expert review on CruiseLine.com also has positive things to say about the cruise line, indicating that it attracts those “who want style and comfort without luxury-line fares.” They do point out a few drawbacks, including separate charges for dining in specialty restaurants and some fitness classes.
The cruise line also gets high marks from U.S. News & World Report from passengers and experts alike. The publication ranks it among the top five cruise lines for romance and Caribbean sailings. It does not rank as high when it comes to looking at cost, which is not surprising since the line’s focus is not on being among the cheapest available options.
Celebrity Cruises Accommodations And Cabins:
Celebrity has traditional inside and outside cabins, and deluxe balconied cabins and suites. The accommodations are spacious and clean. Celebrity also has its special Concierge Class level that provides little extra amenities in the cabins making the cruise experience special–duvets, fruit basket, larger beach towels, plusher bathrobes, etc. Many find the Concierge Class well worth the extra money.
Also Check: What Cruise Ships Sail Out Of Mobile Alabama
Celebrity Captain’s Club Faq
How do I enroll in Captain’s Club?
First, you’ll have to register for an online account on Celebrity’s website. Then, you’ll need to sign up to become a Captain’s Club member.
When does my loyalty status take effect?
Before your first sailing, you’ll be at the Preview level, which offers new Celebrity cruisers a special newsletter and access to the Captain’s Club Loyalty Desk service center for any questions you might have.
For the other tiers, you’ll first have to complete the qualifying sailing for each in order to move up. So, if you reach a new loyalty status during a particular sailing, your updated benefits won’t kick in until your following voyage.
I’m cruising with my friends/spouse, and we’re at different loyalty tiers. Can perks be shared?
If your account is linked to your spouse’s, you will each receive the points, tier level and benefits related to whoever has the higher status. However, this does not apply to friends.
I’m cruising with my child. Will my status carry over to them?
No. Your status will not apply to your children. They are not eligible to join the Captain’s Club until they turn 18, at which time they will receive credit for all sailings taken prior. Save all reservation numbers for past voyages, and place a call to the Captain’s Club desk when your child turns 18 to make sure everything is set up and credited properly.
Will other Royal Caribbean Group brands honor my Captain’s Club status if I cruise with them?
Applying Admiralty Law To Your Case
Most personal injury cases are governed by state law, but cruise ship cases involve federal maritime and admiralty laws. These laws are extremely complicated, so you want a lawyer with experience applying admiralty law to injury cases. Simple mistakes can go against the legal requirements of your cruise ship injury case, but an experienced lawyer will know how to avoid such obstacles to compensation.
If you are looking for the right law firm to handle your Celebrity Cruise injury case and stand up to a large corporate cruise line, look no further than Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A.
Don’t Miss: Mobile Cruise Port
Celebrity Cruise Ship Sets Sail On First Voyage With Ticketed Passengers
The Celebrity Edge left Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on June 26.
Celebrity Cruises made history over the weekend with its re-launch of the Celebrity Edge, the first cruise ship to leave a United States homeport with ticketed passengers since March of 2020 when COVID-19 threw the American cruise industry into a tailspin.
Setting sail to the Caribbean from Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on June 26, the milestone event was complete with a pre-cruise press conference and reception.
“To survive for 15 months with zero revenue is not something they teach you in business school,” Richard Fain, Chairman and CEO of the Royal Caribbean Group – which includes Celebrity Cruises – said.
“But we’re a strong company,” he noted, adding he’s happy to have the “flywheel cranked up again in this industry.”
Under the CDC’s Framework for Conditional Sailing Order , cruise ships can sail if 95% of the crew and paying passengers are fully vaccinated. Before boarding the Celebrity Edge, passengers were required to fill out a health questionnaire form and provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
However, cruising in Florida has become a political debate as the state’s Gov. Ron DeSantis has fought against the notion of “vaccine passports” and chafed under the CDC’s COVID-19 restrictions. Most recently, a federal judge in Florida ruled that the CDC’s conditional sailing orders for Florida-based ships would become “non-binding” guidelines on July 18.
Its Always Easy To Find A Drink When Youre Aboard Celebrity Silhouette
Speaking of watering holes, you wont find a lack of them aboard this ship. Theres a wide swathe of bars and lounges open every evening, so you can find somewhere to wet your whistle, no matter what kind of bar and lounge experience you like.
Theres the Passport Bar, open until late every evening, and opening in the morning at 9 a.m., so you can get a drink almost any time. Craft Social is the newest watering hole, added with the February remodels and replacing Cellar Masters its an upscale sports bar, with lots of beer, upgraded bar food and high-end furnishings.
The Martini Bar is a favorite spot overlooking the atrium. Quasar is a retro night club, while Entertainment Court Bar, another new spot, is adjacent, offering cocktails. World Class Bar is all about mixology. The Retreat Lounge, also new and just for suite guests, took over the spot where Michaels Club once was.
And this all just scratches the surface! Theres still a handful of other bars and lounges left to explore.
Read Also: What Cruise Lines Go Out Of Mobile Al
Recent Updates And Commentary
While the Delta variant continues to impact the United States, there are signs that cases are peaking. That same pattern seems to be happening with cruise ships as well.
As of August 31, 37 ships were either yellow or orange. That was 52.1% or more than half of all ships tracked at the time. However, since then the number of ships impacted has fallen sharply.
Today, 20 ships have non-green status. This is the lowest number of ships and the lowest percentage since we began tracking the color status in early August.
Sixty ships are green as of the latest update. Five ships are orange. Fifteen ships have yellow status:
Ships with status changes since last update:
- Carnival Elation
- Majestic Princess
- Norwegian Gem
Ships removed from list:
Ships added to list:
- N/A
To date, no ships have had to stop sailing due to COVID cases onboard. Cases on ships while a regular occurrence have largely been contained thanks to protocols and vaccine requirements. Since peaking at 37 ships in late August, the total number of non-green vessels has dropped sharply and stayed lower in September and October despite Delta continuing to be an issue on land.
Royal Caribbean Group CEO Richard Fain said that his company has sailed with more than 500,000 passengers since returning. During that time, just 141 cases among guests have been found. That means less than 0.03% of passengers have tested positive, pointing to protocols in cruising working well to limit any spread.
Review Of Celebrity Cruises
Due to the Coronavirus crisis, RCG-Royal Caribbean Group suspended its entire fleet’s passenger shipping operations worldwide by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 13, 2020, through June 30, 2021. Fleetwide operations are planned to resume on July 1, 2021, including Celebrity Galapagos cruises.
Next are listed all Celebrity ships and their first scheduled departure dates/regions in 2021-2022 – APEX , BEYOND , CONSTELLATION , ECLIPSE , EDGE , EQUINOX , INFINITY , MILLENNIUM , REFLECTION , SILHOUETTE , SOLSTICE , SUMMIT . Celebrity Cruises Galapagos ships and their restart dates in 2021 are Flora , Xpedition , Xploration .
- Celebrity’s Australia and New Zealand 2021-2022 programs were canceled .
- All Celebrity repositioning cruises in 2021 were canceled.
- Most Celebrity’s European schedules 2021 were canceled, excluding APEX and SILHOUETTE .
- Celebrity’s South America 2021-2022 program was canceled.
- Celebrity’s Japan 2021-2022 program was canceled.
All affected bookings received full refunds , including on prepurchased through Celebrity Cruises packages and services. The refunds were in FCC to be used on itineraries that depart up to April 30, 2022. The FCC must be redeemed by December 31, 2021. Changing the FCC to a monetary refund must be done by December 31, 2020. Celebrity’s Cancellation Policy was extended to allow penalty-free cancellations up to 48 hours prior departure and receive an FCC.
Recommended Reading: What Cruise Lines Leave From Cape Liberty Nj
More On Celebrity Cruises:
Celebrity’s large premium ships sail worldwide. Celebrity’s expedition adventure ship, the 92-passenger Celebrity Xpedition, sails the Galapagos Islands. In March 2016, Celebrity announced the acquisition of two other small ships to sail in the Galapagos archipelago. These two ships are being refurbished in early 2017 and sail as the Celebrity Xploration and Celebrity Xperience.
Where does the “X” on the funnel of Celebrity cruise ships come from?The Greece-based company the Chandris Group founded the deluxe Celebrity Cruise Line in 1988, and the ships primarily sailed to Bermuda. In the Greek language, “X” translates as “Chi” in English, and Chandris used the “X” as the logo on its ships. In 1997, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line bought Celebrity Cruises and expanded the fleet significantly but retained the “X”.
Celebrity Cruises Contact information:
A Plethora Of Dining Options
Apex has 29 different food and beverage venues, most of which are not buffets. This means that while some modifications were required , most outlets remain the same with à la carte service. Diners can choose between a raw and sushi bar, poolside burger stand, spa café with custom smoothies, steakhouse, Michelin-starred menu at Eden, and Le Petit Chef, a French bistro with 3D entertainment displayed on the table.
Oceanview Café is not your typical buffet, with many dishes prepared à la minute, like meat grilled to order and choose-your-own stir fries. Otherwise, staff serve guests from behind Plexiglass barriers. A pizza oven near the back patio of the ship is particularly popular. The new served buffet concept also significantly reduces food waste, which is a welcome change.
Notably, Apex exchanged its main dining room for four smaller restaurants, all of which are complimentary. Opulently designed, they have diverse menus that include Italian, Mediterranean, and French dishes, which adds variety for cruisers. Who could say no to escargot and French onion soup one night, and sizzling steaks the next?
You May Like: What Cruise Lines Depart From Norfolk Va